DinDavie

The skimmers I've seen are small devices that are stuck over the slot that you insert your ATM card.  It can be a gas pump or an ATM.  It reads your card as you push it through to the real card reader.  It has a small camera focused on the key pad and takes a picture of you putting your PIN into the machine.  The skimmer stores that info and when it is removed by the criminal they then read the information, make a duplicate card and with your PIN number can then empty out your account.  You can detect these types of skimmers by looking closely at the slot and see if it is raised from the base of the machine.  Or you can grasp it and try to shake it.  If it feels loose then report it to the manager or police right away.  If you do this I'll bet you will see someone approach the reader and remove it before you return.  There is always someone near by as they only leave the skimmer in place for an hour or two.  What I don't see in the attached article is if the skimmer was visible or if it was found inside the gas pump reader.  If thats the case then you must never go back to that gas station as they are in on the scam.  I knew there was a reason I do not go to U Gas and I thought it was because they refuse to speak English to me.

For those thinking about going, it is filling up fast.  While there are still some spaces available in the Marathon and half marathon, The 5 K opened up today and is already 90% filled by noon.  We got one of the last spaces available at the Fort.  Its in a premium loop because it was one of the few spaces left.

OK, the flag is cool.  I think the Rallying cry would sound something like a duck call fading into a frog crook.  I also heard there was a secret handshake.  Something involving three fingers and a white glove.

With that year (2007) you won't have to worry about DEF fluid.  I've been told many people prefer to buy units prior to the new polution control standards.  Cummins engines are usually good for 1,000,000 miles so you would have to worry about the condition of the house before you worry about the chassis.  Maintainence is more expensive.  Ask your service tech how much he charges for a 15,000 mile oil and filter change.  I hear good things about the Revolution but you are right about the tires.  I wouldn't worry about the low miles.  It looks like the unit spends a lot of time in one or two different locations each year.  Most are used like that.  Even by fulltimers.  An outdoor kitchen is not as difficult as you think.  That unit has so much storage you can have one put in on rollers in one of the passenger side bays if the slides don't interfere.  Good to hear from you.

The only reason to flush your hot water heater is if your water has a taste or smell you don't like.  You might want to drain it if you are not going to be using it for months on end but it is not necessary.  A better way to flush your hot water heater is to get big jugs of white vinegar from Costco and bring it into your hot water heater through your winterizing drain.  There is an instructional video of this on you tube. When I did this I found that it rinsed out a lot of calcium deposits.

I have driven to the marathons and have taken the bus from the fort and I recommend the bus from the outpost.  On the morning of the race they reroute all vehicle traffic off property and on to 192 for entry back onto property from the main entrance only.  The bus had a more direct route.  Don't take the early buses because you will stand around for over an hour before the race starts.  If your bus fills up at the outpost then it will not stop at the Wilderness Lodge or the Contemporary.  It will go directly to the start which is usually at Epcot.  Don't know about the after party bus schedule because all I wanted to do was get some rack time.  If you are going in support of another runner then you can use the monorail to get from Epcot to the MK and back again to cheer on your runner.  Even if you do not run you will still be doing a 5K just walking around.  

Yes we did walk near each other.  I remember seeing the three of you near the French pavilion but my DW got a sudden burst of energy and passed you on the bridge.  I followed.  I stayed at the fort and just got back today.  I might do another 5 K if it is scheduled at a time that does not require winter clothes.  Sorry I did not say hello but I did not know who you were until I saw this post.

I woke up to 30 degrees. Got on a bus at 440 am then stood in corral E until 630 am. When we finally got started the legs did not want to go. My goal was to stay 3 steps in front of the street sweepers but I finished in 62 minutes. This was more fun than I expected.

Your not the only person who has thought about getting a business in this field.  I have often stayed in campgrounds and thought that I could do a better job.  I've even stayed in States and wondered if anyone in the state knew how to run a campground.  Or I've stayed in Campgrounds that I've loved and could see myself staying there for ever.  Unfortunately, I can't afford to full time at the Fort.

I'll be at the vendors hall at the Sports Complex on thursday to pick up my race packet.  Thats funny.  I'm hoping for a 5K time of just a little over an hour.  I've requested to stay in the 1600 loop so I hope to see any other Fort Fiends with delusions of athletic abilities.  I might get up to cheer my daughter on in the 10K and the Half Marathon but I might be to tired from the 5K so who knows.

I was once told by a very good salesman that the trick is you don't sell the product, you sell yourself.  The product is always second because people can usually find the same thing elswhere.  Most dealers try to hire sales people with sales experience, not RV experience because it is a business and not a hobby..

April in Florida is usually coming to the end of the dry season so flooding should not be a big problem but in the Summer all of those loops can turn into little islands.  Google Total Wines in the Orlando area for the best prices and selection.  Publix is close and they carry a good selection but on Sundays they can't sell booze until noon.  We are currently working our way thorugh the large selection of Proseco  

I agree with everything said on this thread.  My upcoming stay at the fort during the marathon weekend has me paying $135 a night for a full hook up site and the DW insists on a Golf Cart.  I will have to reevaluate any more trips.  We used to be at the fort between 4- and 6 weeks out of the year but I don't intend to return until Halloween 2015.  After that I might sell the MH.  I don't know what I will do with all the extra cash.  If I sell the brick and motar house then maybe we can stay at the fort full time.  

Quality matters.  Thor units are well known for their entry level price.  Not sure what Warren Buffet is known for except making himself rich.  Not that thats a bad thing.  Even if the floor plans don't work for you, go look at Winnebago, Tiffin, Newmar and even Fleetwood to see how seams and caulking is supposed to look.  Then open and close cabinet doors to see how they feel closing and opening and what the inside looks like.  Look on the floor to see if any screws and construction debris is still there. Is there anything on the unit that the dealer hasn't fixed yet.  There shouldn't be.  Its new.  Inspect the exterior for rust forming.  There shouldn't be.  Its new.  

X2 for Smokey Bear Campground.  Excellent hospitality and well maintained.  The pool looks new but I'm from Florida so I don't swim in anything that does not get up0 to 85 Degrees.  Its not a big place but the rates are reasonable.  The place seemed very kid friendly.

Things you need to know are the mark up is usually 35-40%.  Dealers have to make money to stay in business.  Dealers borrow all their money to buy the product from a bank who then requires them to pay 25% each quarter until the unit is sold or the year is up, whatever comes first.  Dealers are not motivated to negotiate too deaply when they do not have much of their money in the unit but as the year goes by they become more motivated.  If the unit is new on the lot don't expect as good a deal as you would find in September thru November.  By then they have a lot of their own money in the unit and are anxious to see a return on investment.  The things you must also consider are the quality of the dealership, the quality reputation of the manufacturer, and the desirability of the floor plan they have in stock.  Its best if you do not get emotionally involved in the deal and do not take your kids to the negotiations.  NADA resale values for specific units can be a good indicator of the general quality of the units a manufacturer.  I did this by constantly checking on a unit on my dealers lot over the internet.  I new it was on the lot for over a year and I knew it was not the color I wanted.  During the discussion I mentioned that I was in route to look at a used Class C that was listed at $50,000.  The Class A unit he had was not green,  and I liked green and the batteries and tires where already a year old.  In Florida that is very important.  The list price was $110,000 and I picked it up after they cleaned it for $70,000

Thor recently bought Airstream.  I hope they did not mess with Airstream Quality Control.  Unfortunately, if your first criteria is price you will find something you can get off the lot but not much else.  Ask the dealer how long he has been carrying that manufacturer.  Two years or less is a no go.  Dealers don't like to deal with problem units any more than customers do.  Thats why I don't deal with CW.  They will deal with any manufacturer that gives them a good volume deal that year. 

Really Beautiful.  And the hat's great to.

I've heard that the 2015 Ford Chassis has been redesigned for better handling.  I would like to hear from someone with experience driving one as the Tampa RV showing is happening soon.  There is a spot on I40 in Tenn. that challenged my V10 but I normally don't have much of a problem.  I do keep the rpm's maxed out at 3500 and on steep grades that equates to 35 MPH.  But I'm retired and am in no hurry to get anywhere.  I find that V10's will be noisy at most any speed.

The Gingerbread houses are unique to each hotel.  I liked the GF house the best.  I found two hidden mickey's on it.  In the Contemporay there is one just behind Elsa at the top of the wall.  Do the other Ginger Bread houses have any hidden mickey's?

Sorry to hear about your damages.  I'm arriving on Sunday.  Do you need anything to make repairs and get you home.  Duck Tape, Tools, let me know asap.  I'm leaving in the morning.

As the person in charge of fecal management let me say that I much prefer to flush someone elses toilet.  Just sayin.

It always amazes me how many people I see at the pool when the weather is in the 50's.  I love sleeping under all those blankets when it gets cold.  If electric blankets are not available then a little electric space heater like you get at Office Depot is fine for a tent.  It safe and makes very little noise.

I vote for those zero g lounge chairs.  I can get into a serious nap in minutes.  The larger one does not fit in any of my storage bays so I recommend that you see if the smaller size will work for you by sitting in it closing your eyes and see if anything bothers you other than a salesman.

I'm more likely to loss my phone.